Copper alloy coatings manufactured by oxy-fuel thermal spray onto a porcelain substrate

Abstract

A coated system consisting of a ceramic substrate and a coating of a copper alloy was developed in order to provide electrically conductive properties to specific surface of the substrate. The coatings were elaborated by oxy-fuel thermal spraying processes. The best way to prepare the surface of the substrate was previously determined to achieve a sufficient adherence of copper alloy particles on the ceramic substrate. In order to manufacture the coatings an Eutectic Castolin 21071TM powder was used, the oxy-fuel flames were produced from two different volumetric acetylene-oxygen ratios (1:1.15 and 1:2.5) obtaining a reducing and oxidizing flame respectively. The effect of surface preparation of the substrate, the coating thickness and the energy of the flame on the structure and coating adhesion wer